MORE than 700 junior doctors are due to take up their new posts in Merseyside and Cheshire’s hospitals tomorrow under a wide-ranging shake-up in medical recruitment.

The change is part of the Government’s programme of medical training reforms, which was heavily criticised after the chaos over the online system for recruiting junior doctors.

But, despite the huge influx of new medical staff – which includes both student doctors and those with more experience – hospital managers have moved to reassure patients that standards of care and safety will not be compromised.

The Mersey deanery region – which includes all hospitals in Merseyside and Cheshire – has a total of 778 training posts for junior doctors.

However, last night there were nearly 70 vacancies, although this figure changes on a daily basis.

Under the old system, junior doctors started posts at different times of the year, but the number starting new jobs on one day is significantly higher this year.

The Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust, the largest on Merseyside, said it anticipated that around 80 new medical students would take up their places on August 1, alongside more than 200 other grades of junior doctor.

Junior doctors work in teams with another junior doctor, who are supervised in turn by more senior trainee doctors and a consultant. They follow a set curriculum for whichever speciality they are training in.

Dr Liz White, medical director at Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals, said that patients should not be worried about services following changes to the medical recruitment process.

She said: “August is always busy with changes to junior medical posts.

“The difference this year is the higher volume. However, we have known about the changes for some time and have put in place robust plans to ensure that there are no major disruptions for patients.

“Part of our plan has been to fast track the recruitment paperwork process to ensure there are no major impacts on direct patient services.

“We are confident of our ability as a medical team to ensure our patients continue to receive a first class service without realising that there have been changes.”

But Remedy UK, the campaign group representing junior doctors, said it had uncovered “significant gaps” in hospital service caused by the reforms.

Matthew Shaw, co-founder of the group, said: “After abandoning the broken computer system trusts have been forced to recruit at the last minute, leaving some hospitals without doctors in key posts.

“Consultants contacting us are also concerned about the quality of candidates being recruited in the last-minute jobs scramble.

“Many are afraid to speak out publicly about their concerns for fear of professional reprisal.”